Antifouling device



Feb. 17, 1948;

l. M. TAYLOR 2,435,986

ANTIFOULING DEVICE 00 Filed Feb. 18, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1v 0' v INVENTOR.

Ivan M. Tgg/or imam-Liam ATTORNEY Feb. 17, 1948. I L'M. TAYLOR 2,435,986

ANTIFOULING DEVICE Filed Feb. 18, 1943 5 s s INVENTOR. lvan M Ely/0r ATTORAEY Feb. 17, M OR ANTIFOULING DEVICE Filed Feb. 18, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. A a/7 M Way/or 99 v mgkx r I ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 17 1948 i '7 1 AN TH OULING DEVICE Ivan M. Taylor, Boston, Mass.; Innes Henry, Boston, Mass., administrator of said Taylor,

deceased Application February 18, 1943, Serial No. 476,359

-. This invention relates to improvements in antifouling devices.

More particularly it relates to methods and means for removing adhering animal and vegetable organisms from the under-Water surfaces of ships and from other under-water surfaces.

In present naval and commercial experience the adhesion and growth of small organisms on ships bottoms cause very great operational and financial losses. Such adhesions reduce a ships speed; require excess carriage and consumption of fuel; and prolong the stays in port. In addition they impose very substantial costs for the clearing away of the adhesions. This evil is experienced with wooden ships as well as with steel. It has been an annoying problem from the earliest times, but hitherto mankind has not found a satisfactory remedy, so far as I am aware. It is known that the passing of an electric current between a steel hull and an electrode in the adjacent sea water can clear away such adhesions to some extent. Various arrangements of electrical apparatus have been devised for putting such a process into efiect; but so far as I am aware none such has hitherto proven acceptable forgeneral use by mariners. One objection has been. that the expense of making the proposed installations extensive enough to cover all necessary parts of the ship has been too great. Another is the considerable diminution of cargo carrying space that would be involved, if the necessary apparatus were introduced into the ship. And a third potent objection has been the knowledge that damagingcorrosion may result when electrolysis occurs between difierent metals; as between bronze propellers and the adjacent steel part of the hull.

The present invention avoids all of these objections. A Single apparatus of the invention can treat an indefinitely large number of ships, each for a short period, thus amortizing the installation cost by an insignificant charge per ship. The ships cargo space is not affected, for the vesselitself does not carry any part of the ap paratus. And the anti-fouling treatments are so short and so infrequent that even if electrol ysis is used the resulting damage to the ship is negligible, if indeed there is any such damage at all. I

The invention has other advantages over previous proposals, both in the nature of the remedial agent; inthe structure by which that agent is applied to the vessel, this being adaptable to various kinds,- shapes andsizes of vessels; also in the meansby which its beneficialtreatment 25 Claims. (01. 204-224) is distributed over a vessels under-water surface; and, operatively, in the low cost per treatment.

The method applies an under-water clearing agent to a ship from a shore location. The application is made from a berth prepared to receive the ship, and other ships as well, in succession, for similar purposes. unloading of cargo, or the taking in of fuel, may proceed simultaneously with the treatment for anti-fouling.

So long as a hull is in water, living organisms are continually becoming attached to its underwater surfaces. The invention does not purport to prevent the occurrence of such adhesions be tween treatments. But, starting with a hull that is preliminarily clear of obnoxious organisms, as when the hull is new, or has been hauled out or dry-docked and scraped, the treatment is to be applied at intervals so short that bacteria, algae, larvae, ova and other forms of life which have become attached during one or more voyages will still be small, and insecurely attachednot having become so old and mineralized, or otherwise so secure, as to be unresponsive to the treatment. The specific nature of the reaction which loosens the-animal or vegetable body is immaterial, whether it be a poisoning, nervous reaction, or death, or whether it be a detergent release of adhering slime in which bacteria and other small organisms are housed.

The treatmentis by coaction of an applicator with the under-water surface of the ship. Forms of applicator to provide positive and quick distribution for large vessels are illustrated herein. One such may be a huge flexible network electrade. A flexible balile partition, which may be of canvas, lines the back of the network, disjunctivelyseparating that water which adjoins the hull from the general mass of adjacent Water which is surrounding the hull.

The single or double network constitutes an applicator, such 'that, with conductor connections to a suitable source of electricity, electrolysis begins, and products inimical to organic life become released, close to the vessels under-water surface, in a distribution which is spread over the whole of so much of the area of vessel as is covered by the applicator.

Chlorine, sodium hydroxide, and hypochlorites dissolve in the Water which is confined against the hullby the canvas partition. Continuation of theelectrolysis increases the concentrations of these noxious'and detergent agents; diffusion in the confined water takesthem into contact The loading and with adhesions that are on the hull; and the agitation which is incidental to the slight flow of water caused by harbor wave and tide action aids rather than reduces the speed of attack. In a short time the resulting concentration of chlorine will far exceed what the bacteria and other small organisms can survive, it being known that for purification of municipal water supplies next to the hull, through an applicatorwhich may be positioned as above described.

Devices for thus positioning an electrode or other applicator againsta vessel are described in detail hereinafter andare ilIustrated'diagrammatically in the drawings. These device s are illustrative, rather than definitive; and variations may be made within the scopeof the'appended claims. i

It is intended that thepatentshall cover by suitable expression in the claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings, which are diagrammatic? Figure 1 is a perspective, showing an applicator and its positioningapparatus at a wharf where a vessel i'salon'gsideiin position for receiving treatment; the supporting apparatus of the applicator, its water-confining,partition and other details being omitted, to avoid confusion of lines;

Figure 2 is an end elevation showing a single network electrode applicator hanging in inactive position beside a wharf as it, may await the com ing of a vessel to the locationseen in dotted outline;

. Figure 3 is a similar end elevation of the same, but with the applicator positioned against the d nd bo om f e v ss let Fi e 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective showin a fitting rope iii} of theinvention with its holding and positioning means, at the beginning of its being drawn sidewise by tackle 64, 66, to fit anetwork electrode totl e underwater surface of a vessel; the water and the vesselbeing omitted;

Figure 5 is a perspective of a detail, being a fragmentof a network electrode and one of its spacing blocks for insulating it from the side of the vessel;

Figure 6 is a perspective of a fragment ofa single network electrode of wire type, divided vertically and horizontallyv into sections which are flexibly and electrically connected so that it can fit the curved side of a vessel;

Figure 7 is a, fragment seen in end elevation of a network electrode applied-to the side of a hull of a vessel;

. Figure 8 is a side elevatiOIl. reatly enlarged, of a flexible connector. such asare seen in Fig ure 6;

. Figure 9 is a fragment seen in end elevation showing the mounting for applying a fitting rope such as that seen in Figure 4;

. Figure 10 is a fragment seen in end elevation of an electrolytic applicatorinwhichthe anode and cathode are each a network;;

Figure 11 is a perspective of a fragment show ing applicator electrodes which are a pair of bars insulated from each other, flexibly connected;

Figure 12 is an end elevation of a fragment of a pipe applicator for discharge of a fluid remedial agent, positioned against a keel, within the water confined to the hull by a flexible partition;

Figure 13 is a plan, of an end baffle and fragment of a combined partition and porouspocket 'type of applicator, by means of which chlorine may be applied as a remedial agent, issuing from bleaching powder contained in the porous pockets; and

"Figure i4 is a perspective of a flexible applicator of the type of that in Figure 13.

Inthe drawingsFigure 1 represents a network applicator'in inactive position at a berth, comprising.) a "wharf IE1, with a vessel l2 alongside. Moorings for the vessel and supports for the applicator and various other details are omitted,

to avoid confusion of lines, principal features to be et d he be n e o t nine rop system 35], 32, 3 35, 4t;,and-4,@, comprising tackle. have ing power at t l andoff-shq fe securement on the harbor bottom for a p ulley block 36,; with these 1 5 n n hnde t e po it on that s t .b occupied by ,vessels to be treated, low enough so thatthe power and tackle can pull a. network applicator from the illustrated position under-.- neath and athwart whatever part of the vessel is opposite the applicator. The applicator hangs idle and the positioning loop 3!] is slack, but,- as suming the harbor bottom securement 33to. be far enough; away,,pull of the winch 44, it may preferabl be a power winch, on the tackle will draw the sheave 32 outward so that ultimately the two ends of the loop 30 will drawthe two under-water ends of the applicator 20 under the vessel until the network 20 itself lies .as close as its construction permits to the under-water forward portion of the vesselillustrated. If one end of the applicator engages the vessel before the other end does, the sheave 32 will run along in the loopid until both limbs of the loop are taut and the applicator itself is tautly wrapped about the part of the vessel which it covers, asv

dicated in these figures as the anode, and the hull of whatever vessel may come to constitute the cathode, for electrolysis or other electrical treatment,

Any suitable means, as a power winch l5, may be provided to control the rope i8 for controlling the elevation, of theelectrode 26. And any suit able means, as a beam with rackand pinion. 22; 24 control may be provided to change the. angle at which the oblique strut l4 stands, to set the applicator 20 out from the wharf into proximity with the side of the vessel I2, or the reverse, this difierenceof position being seen in Figures2 and 3. Figure 3 shows the electrode network 20 let down and positioned against the hullof a freighter: 12; by thiscombination of top support and he tom ta k e .0...341ana 4t ome vessels of d-ifie'rent types may have the hull curved concavely inward below water. It may be ex pe'ct'ed that the curvature, if any, will not be too great for the apparatus to function satisfactorily even though the applicator lies as a chord across a concavity; but if it is desired to draw the applicator into the concavity the fitting rope 60 indicated in Figure 4 can serve that function when pulled sidewise by its tackle 64 at one end and 68 at the other end, these being each a rope passing through pulley blocks off-shore and coming back to power means 69 on the wharf. The pulley blocks 68 are secured at the bottom of the harbor and are spread apart lengthwise of the berth far enoughso that they have components that op- :erate endwise in opposite directions on the fitting rope 6G. The latter normally hangs loose from the electrode within a retainer comprising a horizontal succession of vertically hanging rope loops, in each of which one limb 50 is secured vertically on the back of the network and the other limb 52 of which hangs close'behind the first limb 50, and bight 54 at the bottom prevents the rope 60 from escaping if dropped too low. A series of supporting ropes 55 whose tops are held at 51 on the wharf permits the level at which fitting rope 60 stands to be adjusted within the guideways extending vertically which are constituted by the loops 50, 54, 52. Figure 4 illustrates the position this fitting rope 60 occupies when it has begun to be drawn sidewise by 'the tackle under water holding its ends apart, marked 54 and 66, the network 20v having already been drawn as in Figure 3 under the location of a vessel assumed to be at the berth but not shown in Figure 4.

Thus the hanging applicator 20 can be spread over, alarge area of the vessels hull, the underwater tackle having purchase on the applicator .atits bottom, through the loop 30, and desired mid-level through a fitting rope 50, the falls bei g, conveniently hauled from a station on the W arf. V f Figures 5,v 6, 7 and 8 show details of a strucf ture which the network electrode may'haveif it is" made of wires 23 crossing at short distances apart. At some of thecrossings insulating blocks T0 may be secured, as by wires I I wrapped around strands of network, to keep the network face from "the hull 12' as indicated in Figure 7, which is necessary when the hull and the network are co- ;o'perating electrodes. If more flexibility of the network is needed than is provided by the strands thereof this can'be had by the device illustrated 'in Figure 6, wherein each four squares of the network constitute a separate section, connected toits neighbors electrically and mechanically by 'the" flexible wires 25 which are welded to each section and have 360 of curvature betweenthe ends of theconnector, thus permitting the slight bending of each section relative to its neighbors that may be required for closely fitting the curvature of-the ship.

However, the flexible network electrodemay be otherwise constructed as may be suitable, one form which has merit is that known as expanded metal, which has the advantage that by suitable 'design any desired proportion of metal surface to air spaces can be had, with the conductivity high because of the integrality of the constituent metal, and tending to favor efficiency in electrolysis because the flatness of metal gives relatively -large surface; and being lower in cost because of not needinghand labor for welding wires at crossings to make, good electrical connection.

The network'maybeof any other lattice work, but must be a conductor of electricity and preferably should have a superficial coating of graphite sufficient to prevent attacks by chlorine, as is well understood. Such a coating can be made by applying graphite paint or by other known methods. 7 i

Figure 9 illustrates the combination of an electrode network 20 having hull-spacers T0 with a flexible partition which if desired may have similar-spacers 83 keeping it away from the back side of thenetwork 20, and a fitting rope BO'With its support rope 56 which is retained by a vertical rope guide 52 and by the loop at the bottom 54 so that itcannot escape from close behind the baiile partition 80, whatever may be the level at which it is adjusted by its supporting ropes 56. This complete structure can be pulled to the right by the drawing rope 64 in Figure 9, to fit closely into. a concavity in a hull, if the draft of the positioning rope 30 is not sufficient. However, the hull I2 illustrated in Figure 9 has no such concavity and the fitting rope combination is not needed for that hull.

Figure 10 illustrates an applicator like that of Figure '7 or Figure 9 except that there are two network electrodes I20 which cooperate in the electrolysis, with separators 12 between them, and preferably with a partition backing 80. This is useful if the vessel has a wooden hull or if a steel hull-is so covered with paint that it does not serve well as an electrode.

Figure 11' illustrates two bar electrodes 1220, with separators 14 and flexible connectors I8, so that, if desired;'the electrolysis can be effected by one or moresets of bars extending as electrodes lengthwise of the vessel, at one or more levels like a grid. These can be suspended, and positioned relative to the vessel, by the means hereinbefore shown, and may well be enhanced in practical efiect by a confining flexible partition, such as is shown in Figures 10 and 12 although not seen in Figure 11.

Figure 12 illustrates how the invention may be applied with a bactericide, as chlorine, or a cleaning agent as sodium hydroxide, or other materials which'it may be desired to apply to'a vessels hull, without using electrolysis. In this figure the applicator is a pipe 320, positioned by a supporting-rope l8 and bottom tackle 30 as in theother cases and backed by a flexible partition 80 having frequent means'82 to space it from the hull [2, thus confining the body of water next to the hull into which whatever fluid is forced from a shore connection through the perforated 'pipe 320 can enter and do its work on the ad'- 'hesions on the outside of the hull. Such a pipe may be in sections flexibly connected. If the injected fluid is chlorineit will go into solution; and if it be forced in under pressure, so that more enters than can be immediately dissolved, it will move in bubbles 322 upward within the confined water space, and thus a single pipe 320 may cause distribution of the toxic remedial agent over an area of the ship's hull having a considerable upward dimension. For expediting the effect similar pipes maybe applied at higher locations if desired. r

The applicator may however be arranged to treat the hull with an algicide, as chlorine or copper sulfate, obtained from the convenient solid source by apparatus illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, which may be positioned against and wrapped around a part of the hull by supporting mean l8 and underwater-tackle 30. as in the other" cases,

ZMQQQQQ A. fiexi-blepartition 480m Figures-manila, may beot stout canvas, as may. the corresponding pom tition '80 in. the other figures, resistant to. passage of water; and a sheet oflighter weight canvas. may be stitched in loops on its facewhichistoward the hull, so as to constitute'pockets, 4:20;, extending vertically and open at the top ashoppers, into which charges of bleaching powderorother suitable solid may be thrown. The lines 2 indicate stitches and show the vertioaliehannels-of thesep'ocketss to the bottom,- where thereiis a valve closing. them. This valve ma be made in any convenient way, the means'indicatedbeing a bar 489 extending horizontally along-the partition at a level a little above the bottoms of the p ckets, and. a parallel bar 4B6-at the bottoms of-the Deckets, whence cords 48] rise to some convenient place ofaccess .on the wharf; Upward pull on th cords 481 will fold upward a flap, whichincludes bottom parts of the channelsof-the pockets to, the position indicated in Figure 14.- Ihe canvas ben-ds as a hinge at the level or the bar 489, or a hinge may be provided in any other convenient way at the level of the bar 489, so that thebottoms of all of'the pockets become closed. The faces of the pockets toward the hull are of porous ma terial, or may be made to facilitate waterflow through this face by settingeveletsin punchholes in the pocket wall which'is toward the hull. The cords 48'! having been drawn upward and made fast, this up-turning of the bottom :flapplQSQsthe bottoms of the pockets at the bend where the up- .fold occurs. The pockets 42,0; :may be charged with bleaching powder or other 'algicide, as, for x pl copp su at T e sub tan in th pockets can then deliver its lethal charge freely into water which is confined between the flexible partition 480 and the hull I2, quickly making a strong concentration in the region of the organismswhich-are to reeeiveethe treatment. After the treatment a releasing'of thecord 48! will let the bottom bar 485 and the -flap'488 fall, thus opening all of the pockets for dump neztheir contents of waste residue. I

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate how the vertical edges of the flexible partition, 48!] in those figures and 80 in other figures, may flexibly carry-oblique end baliles 483 for improving the confinement of water between the partition and the hull. These lend bailles may each 'be made in a vertical succession of sections, to provid -fiexibility around the curve from the vessel's side to its bottom. They may be canvas, which may be made stiff by -:a doubling with canvas or expanded-metal sup- ;plemented if desired by a gaff .484 at the top of each section, both canvas and gafi being hinged asat 485 to the vertical edge of the main partition 480 or 83, an being prevented from opening too widely by a strap 48!. [n use, these end bafiles will be tautened against the hull by the stress between the bottom tackle 30 and the top support l8. Casual pressureof wind,;-wave ontide .at either end will tend to close the bafileat that end the more firmly, againstinflowofwater thus tending to maintain concentration of chemicals introduced by the applicator into .the water which is confined.

Owing to its action in confining the remedial agent in proximity to the-surface of the ,hull ,the

flexible partition may be considered to be a part of the applicator. It will beunderstood-that there maybe as many ropes 1'8 andilii-asgareconvenient or necessary, or that --Other apparatus irnay he provided-tor hcldins-t etqnof the-appli to 180 spread and holding itand the fitting i-rope lill 8i withmitv too. much ee at. n place; al o hat th r h d n o o e a ner r s 93 the epperatliil ma be mu i d q d ner eel sm ureier oo ce t tti n i l n Wi h-the. inensi ns conc n d. the d a in s ew h be.- n iag am The electrodes. and their operation are herein described they may be used for electrolysis, in which case the character of the current with low voltage and high amperage will be determined, connected and operated with due regard to the dimensions concerned, according to principles which. are well known in the trt of electrolysis. However, the structure described is also-available, if desired, for application of high tension electricity for electrification of water in the immedie ate vicinity of a hull, if it be desired to apply electricity in this previously proposed methodfor preventing aquatic a-dhesions. Also the same apparatus can be an instrument for applying alternating current, if desired.

When electrolysis is used th soluble chemical reagents released thereby become diffused through th confined water, increasing in concentration while the electrolysis continues. Thesodium hydroxide. constitutes a detergent substance tending to .eat away and to open out the slime, which bacteria and some other organisms have emitted, and which holds still other organisms to. the vessel, If the ships hull is the cathode, it is aided in this physical separating of such organisms from the ship by the cathodic evolution of hydro- .gen, which tends mechanically to lift the adhering slime. and film from the ships surface,and so to facilitate .emu'lsification by the hydroxide.

In operation, the applicator, of whatever style, is positioned against the vessel by manipulation of its top. support and its bottom tackle, indicated respectively by the suspending rope l8 and the under-water rope 39. Movement of the rope l 8, upor down and out or in, by its winch l5 and spar M, can set the top of the applicator into desired proximity to the vessel, and to desired level with respect ,to the wateror the keel. By the un- ,der-water tackle 30 the bottom of .the applicator .can be drawn athwart under the essel so as to .wrap it about a considerable area of the vessel's side and bottom. If desired this positioningcan be aided by one or more fitting rope 60. The applicator is then to be activated, as by -introduoing electricity through supply conductors 15, 11 to electrodes 20, 20 or 220 for electrolysis or other electrification; or b forcing a fluid remedial agent into the pipe 320 thrOugh-asuppIypipe (not shown); or by charging the pockets 4.20 with bleaching powder or other substance or mixture ,of substances, such as detergents or .algicidesof which examples are found inflcopper sulfate, general poisons such as arsenicals, and synthetic-or,- ganic compounds which may be found to be eife c ,tiveas remedial agents. When action has pro,- .ceeded to a sufficient extent the applicator is to be released from the vessel; and the vessel may -=then be moved-so as to present similarly a fresh portion .ofits under-water surface for treatment. It should have a repetition of the treatmentaf-ter anintervakinwhich fresh adhesions have not had time to become secure beyond the removal power ,of this type of treatment. The ratesat which bacteria, slimes and other adhering matter-be- :come attached, and increase, vary greatly depending on the characterand condition of the surfa e of the vessels hull, the locality contnts a d tem e tur ;-o h Wate h r t seat .eoe eand -ot e c on Although the invention is herein described as it may be operated with apparatus based on a stationary support, indicated as being a wharf, and thus requires no apparatus on the vessel except the usual mooring, it will be recognized that the applicator might be based on a floating support, and so could be moved about a harbor to the off-shore sides of various vessels at their own particular berths. In such a case arrangements would ordinarily be made in advance at each berth to have under-water tackle available there, for drawing the applicator athwart under the vessel. Also, the applicator may in some cases find its top support by being hung over the side of the vessel from the deck on the side of the hull which is to be treated. A support of this type can be improvised at foreign ports not equipped with an installation. In such cases suitable under-water tackle equivalent to that above described can be arranged for wrapping the under-water portion. of the applicator under the vessel.

Thus the invention is available for application to and treatment of all sorts of under-water surfaces stationary or mobile, including flying boats; wooden or steel floating or fixed structures; painted or not; in salt water or fresh.

In the appended claims it will be understood that the term hull is used to signify not only the under-water surface of a floating vessel but under-water surface of any structure to which the described anti-fouling device is applicable with such modifications as are within the range of engineering skill; also that the word station signifies a fixed place affording a stand for haulage of tackle under the hull, and that although this stand preferably is apart from the vessel, and is a shore station, as at a wharf, it is not necessarily so but may be a float or even may be on the vessel itself which is to be treated.

I claim as my invention:

1. In apparatus of the class described, means for setting a hanging applicator against the hull of a vessel, comprising tackle whose fall, extending from a hauling station, passes under the position of the hull, through a pulley block of the tackle fast beyond the remote side of the hull,-

and thence returns under said hullposition for purchase on a bottom portion of the hanging applicator.

2. Means for setting a hanging applicator against the hull of a vessel, as in claim 1, further characterized in that for the purchase on the applicator there is a loop of rope whose ends are spread apart lengthwise of the hull for attachment to the applicator; and there is a sheave in the bight of that loop, from which sheave the tackle runs through the remote pulley block to the hauling station.

' 3. Means for setting a hanging applicator against the hull of a vessel, as in claim' 1, further characterized in that there is a wharf station from which the fall of the tackle extends down to and through a pulley under water below that station; and that said remote pulley is at an anchorage on the sea bottom under water.

4. In apparatus of the class described, means for setting a hanging applicator against the hull of a vessel, there being a wharf station and said applicator hanging therefrom; said means com-- prising a rope, supported on the wharf and supporting the applicator, combined with means to move the ropes support out from and in toward the wharf for setting the top of the applicator laterally toward and from a hull berthed at the wharf; and means under water at said station, outrigged and acting outward therefrom, for engaging and positioning a lower part of the applicator toward the hull berthed at the wharf.

5. In apparatus of the class described, means for setting a hanging applicator against the hull of a vessel, there'being a wharf station and said applicator hanging therefrom; said means comprising a rope, supported on the wharf andsupporting the applicator, combined with means to haul in and let out the rope over its support, for setting the applicator vertically relative to a hull berthed at the wharf; and means under water at said station, outrigged and acting outward there frcm, for engaging and positioning a lower part of the applicator toward the hull berthed at the wharf.

6. In apparatus of the class described, an applicator for anti-fouling treatment of the hulls of successive vessels at a shore station, comprising a. discharging holder for treating means, said holder being in sheet form extending up and down and along a berth for the hulls of vessels that are to be treated, being applicable for broadside coverage of a considerable area of only the shore side of a hull at the berth, and being flexibly conformable to curvature of the surfaces of the hulls to which it is applied, combined with the said shore station alongside the berth; and rope tackle means supported at the station for posi tioning the holder with respect to the successive hulls, said tackle having elements holding the applicator in vertical suspension and having an element for positioning the lower part of the applicator laterally with respect to the hull, comprising tackle extending horizontally under the hull berth between the shore station and a seabottom anchored pulley beyond and below the hull, thence returning with purchase on the lower edge of the applicator.

7. Means for setting a hanging sheet-form anti-fouling applicator against the hull of a ves-, sel, comprising, in combination, a fitting rope extending lengthwise of the hull and means supporting that rope in engagement with the applicator sheet at a mid-height of that sheet; and tackle to shift the fitting rope sidewise toward the hull to move a mid-portion of the sheet toward the hull.

8. Means for setting a hanging sheet-form anti-fouling applicator against the hull of a vessel, as in claim 7, further characterized in that the fitting rope is on that side of the sheet which is away from the hull.

9. Means for applying anti-fouling treatmen to, the under-water surface of a, hull by a sheetform hanging applicator as in claim '7, further characterized in that there are ropes suspending the fitting rope at intervals; and a vertical guideway for up and down adjustment of the fitting rope, comprising vertical ropes secured to the applicator on its side which is away from the hull, at upper and lower points, retaining the fitting rope in proximity to'the back of the sheetform applicator between those upper and lower points.

10. Means for setting asheet-form hanging applicator into a concavity in the hull of a vessel, comprising a fitting rope extending lengthwise of the vessel and combined with the applicator for moving it toward-the vessel; there being tackles with purchases on the ends of the fitting rope, having pulley blocks in positions spread apart in the direction which is lengthwise of the vessel, to positions which are beyond the ends of the fitanemone 1'1 ting rope and are on thesideof the hull which is the more remote therefrom, whereby the hauling of the tackles both maintains the fitting rope stretched and sets it sidewise toward the hull.

11. In apparatus of theclassd'escribed, a flexible sheet partition which when unconstrained hangs vertically; means comprising rope tackle, acting laterally of the partition, engaging the partition at at least two levels,- respectively high and low relative to each other, for setting the partition broadside toward the surface of a hull; and mean associated with thepartition between the partition and the hull for releasing anti-fouling substance, thereby to charge the water confined by the partition and the-hull.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a partition and substance-releasing means as in claim 11', combined with bafil'e extensions of the partition at its ends, obliquely inclined from the said partitiontoward' thehulls surface, for closing the ends of the confined space; the end edges of the partition being flexible, and each said bafile extension b'ein'g a vertical series of sheet sections joined to the end edge-of the partition, so that that series is flexible edgewise of'the bathe-sheetsections.

13. In apparatus of the class described, a partition and substance-releasing means as in claim l'l combined withbaffie'ext'ensions of the partition" at its ends, flexibly joined to the partition and obliquely inclined from the-said partition toward the hulls' surface for closing the ends of the confined space; the vertical extent" of said bafiles bein divided into sections which are separately movable,- whereby" a fitting of the partition and bafiies' around curvature of the bulls surface is facilitated.

14. In apparatus of the class described, a partit'ion and substance-releasing means as in claim 11, combined with baffle extensions ofth'e partition at its ends obliquelyinclined from'the said partition toward the hullrs surface for closing the ends of the confined space the vertical extent of the baffiesbein'g divided into-sections, said sections being of canvas combined with means stinening them against collapse inward toward the hull, and with retaining. straps limiting their swing away from the hull.-

15. In apparatus of the class described, an applicator for releasing anti-fouling active substances under water beside a hull, comprising a clischargingdevice for treating meanswhich device. is structurally independent of the hull but has extent in shape which adapts it tooccupy a position that extends along the hulls surface which is to be cleaned; a station with means independent of the hull for sustaining said device there; and rope'tackle means at the station for applying the applicator to'said position; said discharging device beingrflexible to conform to curvature of the hull; and the s'aid means atthe station for applying the applicatortosaid position having parts'at a pluralit'y of locations along the extent of the discharging device, which parts are proiectable to various distances outward for seting out various parts of the dischargin device, toposition the said device as a Whole in conformity with the curvature of the hull.

165 In apparatus of the class described, an applicatoras in claim 15 further characterized in that the said device i'sia 'foraminous electrode and there is electrical circuit means for passing current: throughi it and througha cooperating electrodeotoppositesighl- 17. i In. apparatus or: the class described, an ap- 1'2 plicator as in claim 15 further characterized in that the said deviceisia pair of parallel electrodes, of opposite signs at least one of which is foraminous and there is means for passing current between them.

18. In apparatus of the class described, an applicator as in claim 15 further characterized in that the said device contains one or'more network foraminous electrodes extending'over an area of the hull, and there is electrical circuit'means for passing current through that electrode and through a cooperatingelectrode of opposite sign.

19. In apparatus of' the class described, an applicator asin claim 15 further characterized in that the said device contains two or. more parallel bars constituting electrodes, arranged foraminously as a grid extending lengthwise of the hull, and there is electrical circuit means for-passing current between the bars.

20. In apparatus of the class described, an applicator as in claim 15 further characterized in that it is the releasing means for the active antifOllllllg substance" and is a pipe having lateral discharge openings and extending lengthwise along the hull there being connectingv means to supply the active substance from the station to the pipe.

21. In apparatus of t-he'class. described, an applicator as in claim 15 further characterized in that the applicator is aflexible hanging partition on whose side that is toward the hull are pockets for holding a solid substance and gradually releasing therefrom into' the water an aqueous solution of that substance that will release the active anti-fouling. substance.

22. In apparatus of theclass described, an applicator as in claim 15 further characterized in that the applicator is a flexible hangin partition on whose side that is toward the hull are pockets which extend vertically for receiving a solid substance and gradually releasing therefrom into the water an aqueoussolution of that substance that will diifuse the active anti-fouling substance, the walls of said pockets which aretoward the hullbeing foraminous for ingress and egress of water.

23. In apparatus of the class described, an applicator as in: claim 15 further characterized in that the applicator is a flexible hanging partition on whose side that is toward the. hull are pockets which-extend vertically for receiving solid substance and gradually releasing therefrom into the water an aqueous solution of that substance that will difiuse the active anti-fouling substance, the walls of said pockets which are toward the hull being foraminous for. ingress and egress of water; there being at the bottomof said partition and pockets a flap which is bendable. up to fold and close the bottoms of the pockets, and when released falls and lets the bottomsopen and dump contents.

24. In apparatus: of. the class described, an applicator as in claim 15 further. characterized in that the applicator is alflexible hanging partition on whose side that is toward the hull are pockets for holding a solid substance and gradually releasing therefrom into the water an aqueous solution of that substance'that will diffuse the active anti-fouling substance.

25. In apparatus of the class described, an applicator as in claim 15 further characterized in that the applicator is a flexible hangingpartition on whose side that is toward the hull are pockets for holding and gradually releasing into the water an aqueous solution. of that substance that IVAN M. TAYLOR. 5

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Farley Sept. 12, 1899 Browne Nov. 18, 1913 Mason Dec. 4, 1900 Quimby Apr. 25, 1899 Frazier May 8, 1906 Buchanan Feb. 23, 1892 

